Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128406
Briefly... Toyota To Back AMA Motocross Yamaha Motor France will enter three riders in the 2006 Superbike World Championship, with former japanese 250cc Champion Shinichi Nakatomi joining the team's 2005 riders, Norick Abe and Sebastien Gimbert. Nakatomi, 27, is an experienced RI rider, having ridden for Yamaha's YSP Racing Team in the Suzuka 8 Hours and japanese JSB I000 Championship since switching to four-strokes in 2003. Having never raced outside his native japan, Nakatomi is looking forward to the adventure of racing in the World Championships, experiencing Western culture and racing the YZF-R 1 at the World level. "Although I still haven't finished the big task of winning the All-japan JSB I 000 title on the YZF-R I, I am going to he announcement that Toyota has signed a multiple-year agreement with AMA Pro Racing to become the title sponsor of the AMA National T Motocross Championship was a sur- prise highlight of the 2005 AMA Pro Racing Championship awards banquet at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Sunday night, November 20, The deal was introduced after Ricky Carmichael was once again named as the AMA Pro Racing/Speed Athlete of the Year, Mitch Payton and Pro Circuit Racing were awarded the AMA Pro Racing Award of Mechanical Excellence, Chris Carr was presented with the AMA Pro Racing Sportsman of the Year Award, and AMA Pro Racing Advertising Awards were handed out to Fox Racing in the best-ad category for the "unsung heroes/hero" print ad fea- start anew next season in World Superbike turing Carmichael and his parents, and properties. AMA Motocross has seen and fans are dedicated truck buyers, and The Creative Works in the best campaign tremendous growth in recent years. and category for its Suzuki campaign. this sponsorship, driven by Toyota's The official name of the 2006 motocross series wili be the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship, and it fills the void left when the sponsorship package with Chevy Trucks ended after the 2004 season, Toyota has also stepped up as the sponsor of the AMA Arenacross Series and as the official truck of the Amp'd Mobile AMA Supercross Series, aggressive activation plans, should con- we look forward to strengthening our relationship with them." As part of the sponsorship agreement, Toyota wili have a strong presence at all rounds of the AMA Toyota Motocross Championship presented by FMF, according to AMA Pro Racing. Product displays featuring Toyota vehicles wili be part of the AMA Motocross Championship, and there will be fan ride-and-drive opportu- "We're excited to have Toyota come on board as series sponsor of motocross," tribute to its ongoing expansion. It Farris added that the sponsorship is a multiple-year commitment, though the amount of years wasn't disclosed. The AMA Motocross Championship will celebrate its 3Sth season in 2006 after a record season of attendance in 2005, in which, according to AMA Pro Racing, nearly 260,000 fans attended the 12 nities at selected rounds. Toyota will also rounds. 2006 television package. be a major advertising supporter of the president of commercial development. in an AMA Pro Racing press release. "Fans of AMA Motocross are faithful supporters of we feel our involvement in the category will ensure that Toyota is front and center the sport's sponsors, and we're confident that Toyota will reap major benefits from among this important consumer [segment]," said Brian Smith, corporate man- their involvement. Toyota's investment in ager, truck operations, Toyota Motor this category is a clear validation of the growing potential associated with AMA Sales. "Trucks and motorcycles have a Farris. "We feel good that a powerful brand like Toyota recognizes the marketing value and overall potential of AMA Championship Racing. We're looking forward to a long, productive and mutually natural relationship. Motorcycle riders beneficial relationship." "Toyota has made clear their intention on growing the sports of AMA Motocross, Supercross and Arenacross," responsible, in conjunction with Yamaha's japanese headquarters, for the development of Yamaha's YEC racing-kit parts-development program for the YZF-R I and YZF-R6. The team expects to use these parts as the base of its 2006 machines and will use the series as an opportunity to test and develop the 2007 range of customer race parts. The Tanya Hays print of 7-year-old Josh Serne is currently being auctioned on eBay, with proceeds going to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in Serne's name. The print has "A significant number of young people have adopted the 'motocross lifestyle' and said john Farris, AMA Pro Racing vice and try to focus everything I have learned over the past three years with Yamaha and do the best I can," Nakatomi said. "I don't intend to use my first year in the championship just as a year for learning. I intend to go out there and race aggressively, and I hope to be up there in the race for the championship." Yamaha Motor France's squad will again be run by experienced tuner Martial Garcia, whose company is added been signed by 65 riders, including legends such as Kevin Schwantz, Kenny Roberts, Eddie Lawson and Randy Mamola, as well as current stars such as Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Colin Edwards, Marco Melandri, Chris Carr, etc. Serne, a young racer who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age 012, was presented with the print prior to the U.S, GP at Laguna Seca, with a second print produced to be autographed by the stars. For more information on josh Seme, visit www.team65.net. Advanstar has announced that the 12-round K&N Filters Presents BooKoo Arenacross Championship Series Powered by Toyota will air on the Outdoor Channel for the 2005-06 season, with a debut set for December 31. The first one-hour show will feature the series opener in Fort Worth, Texas. The shows will air on Saturdays at S p.m. (EST) and will be rebroadcast the following Friday morning. Each show will highlight play-by-play race action, rider interviews and special-interest stories on what it takes to compete at this level. "Teaming up with the Outdoor Channel further emphasizes our plan to reinvent arenacross," said Mike Kidd, director of race operations. "Fans across the country can now experience the intense, round-byround BooKoo Arenacross action, and our riders and sponsors will receive national coverage in the process." Adelanto Motorplex in Adelanto, California, has a supercross track and an outdoor track ready for rental. The track wili host an invitation event for AMA-licensed Pro riders on Saturday, December 3. All riders need to RSVP by Wednesday, November 30, at 760/2659209. Pictures of the tracks can be viewed at Continued on poge r r CYCLE NEWS • NOVEMBER 30, 2005 9